Machine for making



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

G. W. TAIE'T.

MACHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND CLEANING ROADS. No. 331,920. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

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NITNEEEEE V 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. W. TAFT. MACHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND CLEANING; ROADS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

E-IMIIE I er. Washmgim o c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

G. W. TAFT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND CLEANING ROADS. No. 331.920.

Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

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GEORGE W. TAFT, OF ABINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND CLEANlNG ROADS EPEUIBFIC'ATIO? forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,920, dated December 8, 1885.

Serial No. 164,547. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE XV. Tiirr. a citizen of the United States, residing at Abington, in the town of Pomfret, in the county of Vindham and State of Connecticut, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making, Repairing, and Cleaning Roads; and I declare the following to be a description of my said invention, sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of road-machines in which the work ing blade or scraper is suspended or arranged beneath a carriage or body mounted upon traveling wheels, and having thereon mechanism for adj nsting the position of the blade under control of the operator who rides upon said carriage.

The objects of my present invention are to provide an efficient and convenient stiffangled or non-reversible road-machine in which the ends of the blade are positively sustained against the working strain, while permitted vertical adjustment by means of pushbars extending from the rear of the machine to the back of the blade; also, to provide in a non reversible road machine a verticallyswinging thrust-frame and push-bar arrangement that will permit the required adjustments of the scraper in relation to the plane of the road; also,.to provide in a road-machine a hand-wheeloperating device for imparting motion to the blade-elevating mechanism, whereby the respective ends of the blade can be raised and depressed in a quick, easy, and convenient manner; also, to provide an improved lifting mechanism for elevating and depressing the blade; also, to afford facilities in a road-machine, in connection with hand-wheeloperating devices, of abralte or stop device for retaining the hand-wheel, lifting mechanism, and blade at position of adjustment. These objects I attain by mechanism, the nature, construction, and operation of which is illustrated in the drawings, and explained in the following description, the

particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a road-machine, illustrating the features of my present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view on larger scale, showing the lifting-bar, guideroll, and hand-wheel for raising and depressing the rear end of the scraper or blade. Fig. 3 shows a modification of the guide-roll and lifting-bar guide-flanges. 4 is a detail view of the hand-wheel, the gears, and part of i the lever for raising and depressing the forward end of the blade. Fi g. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the machine in rear of the scraper-blade, at line as at, Fig. 2, with dotted lines indicating the relative location of the rear carrying-wheels. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the adj usting-gear for raising and depressing the rear end of the blade. Figs. '7, 8, and 9 are detail views showing the manner of connecting the push-bars to the rear axle or their support-bar; and Fig. 10 shows a modified form of connectinghinge for said pushbars that may be employed with a square axle or support-bar.

In reference to parts, A designates the carriagebod y or supportingframe mounted upon front and rear axles having traveling wheels B and B, the front axle being provided with a tongue and draft attachments for the team, whereby the machine is drawn forward along the road when working it. A platform or attendant or operator who manages the machine, and a seat, A is provided for the driver who directs the team. Beneath the carriage is a thrust-frame, 0, extending from the rear part of the machine to the center of the scraper-blade D, which latter is located between the front and rear wheels, as indicated. The thrust-frame G is preferably of V shape, as shown in my former patents, the broad end being hinged or joined to the rear axle, E, and the point or front end being attached to the blade D, near its lower edge, by a connecting joint, (I, that will permit theend of the blade to be elevated or depressed. The top edge of the blade may be braced back to the thrust-frame by a rod suitably attached floor, A, is provided on the carriage for the IOO thereto, to retain it from forward and backward tipping action. The rear axle, E, is preferably made as a round shaft extending across from one wheel, B, to the other, the body being rigidly attached thereto by suitable castings and braces at a, which firmly clamp said axle-shaft, and at the same time form seats for the body-beams and bearingcollars forthe wheel-hubs.

F indicates a pushbar arranged in rear of the forward end of the blade D for sustaining the backward thrust thereon when the point is plowing into the earth. The forward end of said push-bar is attached to the lower part of blade D, at or near the end thereof, by a connecting-joint, d, that admits of a limited amount of swivel action, so that the end of the blade can be raised and lowered freely. The rear end of said push-bar F is hinged upon the rear axle, E, or connected with the carriage in a manner that will permitits forward end to swing up and down while resisting the backward strain on the blade.

F indicates a similar though shorter pushbar arranged at the opposite side of the machine for sustaining the rear end of the blade D, the end of said bar I?" being attached to the blade at d by a connecling joint similar to that at d, and its rear end hinged or connected in a manner similar to that of bar F. The rear ends of the push-bars G, F, and F are preferably provided with head castings or bearingsf, having openings that pass over and embrace the aXle-shaft-E in the manner shown, (see Figs. 2, 7, 8, and 9,) so that said bars can swing on the axle as a pivot.

The several parts may be disposed and located upon the axle as illustrated; orin some cases it may be desirable to have the ends of the push-bars F F connected at the outer sides of the carriage-frames next the wheels, which may be done; but I prefer the construction shown. If preferred, or in case a square axle or beam is used to sustain the rear ends of said puslrbars, they may be attached in other efficient manner, or as indicated in Fig. 10,. where in f is the bearing, E the axle or supportingframe, and E a supplementary bar attached thereto for receiving the hinge or bearings f. The central thrust-frame, O, and the push-bars F F together form a vertically-movable W- shaped truss in rear of the blade that sustains said blade strongly against the workingstrains, while it permits the vertical and inclined adjustment of said blade as desired. The front end of the blade D is suspended by a bar or link, G, from the arm of a lever, H,

' that is arranged along the side of the machine jects from the carriage-frame.

and fulcrumed at h on a support, A that pro- The rear arm of said lever is provided with a gear-segment, H, that meshes with an actuating-pinion, I, by which the arm of the lever may be moved up and down for raising and depressing the front end of the lever and blade. The rear end of the blade is connected by a link, G, to a vertically-sliding rack, J, that meshes with an actuating-pinion, I, and is guided by a flanged friction-roll, K, pivoted on a suitable bracket or support connected to the carriageframe A. The pinion I that operates the lever H may be provided with flanges i z", for embracing the sides of the internally-toothed segment H, and thus serving to guide and retain said segment and its lever H in proper relation therewith as it is moved up and down by the rotation of the hand-wheel M. The rack J and its guide-roll K are preferably fitted to each other by intermatching grooved and flanged surfaces, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 3, and the operating-pinion I is provided with flanges j to embrace the sides of the rack, so that said rack is confined and guided in proper relation as it slides up and down, and works with but little friction or resistance when adjusting the blade.

Hand-wheels M and M are provided for imparting motion to the respective pinions I I or operating-gear of the blade-lifling mechanism when elevating and depressing the blade or adjusting the blade to differently-inclined positions in relation to the plane of the road. These wheels may be made some three feet in diameter, (more or less,) with round or other formed rims that can be conveniently grasped by the hand at any part of their periphery. In the present instance the hand-wheels and their pinions are respectively attached to each other or formed on the same hub. They are mounted on a shaft, L, that extends across the carriage A and is supported in hearings on suitable standards, I Z. One of the wheels (M or M) is arranged to turn loose on shaft L, so that the two wheels can be revolved independently of each other for separately adjusting either end of the blade required. The rims of the hand-wheels are made sufficiently heavy to act as a balance against the weight of the blade-lifting devices, so that the momentum of the wheel will greatly assist the operator in the manipulation of the machine. Short shafts or studs may be used in lieu-cf shaft L as journals for the hand'wheels and gears, if desired. I prefer, however, to have the shaft extend across the machine, as it makes a stronger and more rigid construction.

Brake mechanism is arranged in connection with the carriage for stopping and retaining the handwheels to hold the blade at any po sition of adjustment. Said brake mechanism may be made, as indicated,with levers a, having one end fulcrumed beneath the platform at n, and the other provided with a pad or shoe, N, to press against the rim of the handwheel, a suitable spring, s, being connected therewith to give the required holding pgessure. A foot piece or pedal, P, arranged at a convenient position enables the attendant to depress the lever and brake'shoe by placing his foot thereon when he desires to throw off the brake for releasing the hand-wheel.

In lieu of connecting the hand-wheel and blade-lifting bar or lever by means ofa toothed pinion and rack, said parts may be connected by a strap or chain, (one or more,) one end whereof connects with the lift bar or lever, while the other end is arranged to wind onto the pinion or hub on the hand-wheel, or onto a sheave geared to the hand-wheel hub.

The operation of this road-machine is obvious from the drawings and foregoing description. The operator, standing upon the platform A, when he desires to raise or depress either end of the blade, places his foot upon the brakepedal P corresponding to the end to be adjusted, and grasping the rim of the wheel where it is most convenient to his hand, swings it back ward or forward (accordingly as reqnired)with a free and easy action, and to a greater or less extent, as desired, then releases the pedal and the brake or stop is automatically applied by its spring 5.

A hand-whee], in combination with and for imparting motion to mechanism for elevating and depressing the scraper or blade in a road machine, is of great practical utility and advantage, as it enables the operator to handle and control the machine with greater ease and facility than with a lever handle or crank, and does not necessitate his taking an awkward or constrained position at any part of the action. The rim of the wheel, acting by its momentum as a balance-wheel, also enables the operator by a quick movement to suddenly throw the blade completely up from the ground to avoid contact of large stones or other obstructions while the machine is in motion. Said rim also serves as a continuous seat for the stop or brake, so that the adjustment can be held with the blade at any degree of elevation de sired.

A hand-wheel adapted to act by its peripheral momentum, or as a balancewheel, for assisting or augmenting the throw or movement when adjusting the scraper, in combination with the scraper-blade and bladeadjnsting mechanism, for the purpose specified, is an important feature of my invention.

Hand-wheels may be employed for elevating and depressing the scraping-blade in a road-machine, in combination with connections or lifting devices of other construction and arrangement from those herein shown,

with beneficial results, and I so intend to emblade, and a hand-wheel adapted for develop- 3 ing peripheral momentum carrying a pinion ploy said hand-wheels; and I have in other applications (see Serial Nos. 167,212 and 173,968) for Letters Patent described and claimed certain combinations in which other forms of lifting mechanism are employed for effecting the vertical adjustment of the blade.

I am aware that a railroad snow-plow or track-clearer has heretofore been patented, in which the plow was braced from the car-axle by parallel braces rigidly connected to the plow; and that a swinging transverse scoop or shovel pivoted between the ends or rearwardly-extending braces of equal length, and in connection with a wheeled carriage, has also been shown in another patent. I am also aware that other patents exhibit road-scrapers wherein braces or links are shown which connect blade-supporting standards in rear of the blade, with one of the side bars of the carriage-frame. Such devicts I do not therefore herein claim, as neither of them attain the results incident to my improvementviz., perfect flexibility of adjustment with direct support or thrust under all conditions of use and positions of adjustment.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for grading and clearing roads, the combination, with a scraper bar or blade suspended from the carriage between its front and rear wheels, of thrust-bars extending from the axle or rear of said carriage, and attached to the back of said scraper near its ends by connecting -joints that permit upward and downward adjustment at each end of the scraperblade, independent of the other, substantially for the purpose set forth.

2. In a road grading machine, the combination of the scraperblade, the central thrustframe, 0, connected for supporting the middle of the blade, and the push-bars F and F, connected for sustaining the ends of the blade, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the non-reversible scraper-blade, the triangular thrust-frame G, the push-bar F, hinged at its rear end to the carriage or axle and at its forward end to the scraper near the advance end thereof, and a lifting connection and lever, as H, for elevating and depressing the advance end of said blade and push-bar, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a diagonal scraper supported in connection with a wheeled carriage and adapted for upward and downward adjustment independently at either of its ends, of an operatingwheel (or wheels) for eliecting such adjustment, adapted to act as a momentum or fly wheel, as set forth, whereby the peripheral weight of said wheel is utilized to assist in the adjustment of the blade, substantially as hereinbefore explained.

5. In a machine for grading and clearing roads, the combination of a di'agonallydisposed vertically adjustable scraper blade supported by a push-frame in rear of said blade, an elevating mechanism connected for raising and lowering the respective ends of said for imparting motion to said elevating mechanism for effecting the upward and downward adjustment of the scraper.

6. In a machine for grading, repairing, and clearingroads,the combination of averticallyadjustable scraper-blade, a thrust frame connected to the body or its supporting-axle in rear of said blade, a lil'tinglever supported on the carriage and provided with a segment and connecting-link for raising and depress ing said scraper, and a hand-wheel and pinion engaging said segment for imparting motion thereto, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the carriage or body mounted on front and rear wheels, the non reversible scraper sustained by a verticallyswinging thrust-frame from the rear axle, the suspending-rod, the backwardly-extended lever provided with a gearsegment at its opposite end, the pinion meshing therewith, and the haud-wheel for operating said pinion.

S. In a machine for grading and repairing roads, the combination of a scraper-blade, push-bars for sustaining the ends of said blade hinged to permit upward and downward adjustment, blade-adjusting mechanism, with hand-wheels for imparting motion thereto, and brakes acting upon said hand-wheels for retaining said wheels and the blade at any position of adjustment, substantially as set forth.

9. In aroad-grading machine, the combina tion, with the carriage and the hand-wheel for operating the blade-elevating devices, of the brake-lever n, fulerumed on said carriage and provided with a presser-shoe, N, for engaging said hand-wheel, the spring 8, and pedal P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a road-machine, the combination of a scraper-blade adapted for upward and downward adjustment at its respective ends, an operating hand-wheel (or wheels) connected therewith for effecting such adjustment, and a brake (or brakes) acting against said wheel to arrest movement thereof and retain the parts, substantially as set forth.

11. In a wheeled road-scraper, the combination of a scraper-blade adapted for upward and downward adjustment at its respective ends,an operating-wheel (or wheels) connected therewith for effecting such adjustment and adapted for developing peripheral momentum for throwing the blade up or down, and abrake acting against said wheel to arrest the movement thereof and retain the parts in position, substantially as set forth.

12. In a road-grading machine, the combination of the non-reversible scraper-blade, the lever H, having a gear-segment, H, and link G, for adjusting the advance end of the said blade, the rack J, and link G, for adjusting the rear end, and the pinions I and I, and means of imparting motion thereto for effecting the adj ustment. substantially as set forth.

13. In a road-machine, the combination, with an oblique scraper suspended beneath a carriage or body mounted on front and rear wheels, of means for imparting independent upward and downward adjustment at the respective ends of said scraper provided with hand-wheel and pinion devices for imparting movement thereto, and stops or brake devices acting in connection with said hand-wheels for retaining the parts at positions of adjustment, substantially as described.

\Vitness my hand this 2d day of May, A. D. 1885.

GEORGE W. TAFT.

IVitnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLLIGH, E. I. TYLER. 

